Reflections on Mark's Gospel - Mark 1:21

Teaching in Capernaum's Synagogue

Capernaum was a city on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, which had a large harbour to support its fishing industry. It benefited from being on a major trade route between the Mediterranean coastal plain and Damascus in the north. It was reasonably prosperous. Its population was mostly Jewish, but there was a small garrison of Roman soldiers. The relations between the Jews and the soldiers appears to have been cordial.

Jesus chose to base himself in Capernaum during his ministry. This may have been because of its centrality, or because several of his followers lived there, or because it was a safe distance away from Herod Antipas (who killed John the Baptist) and Jerusalem, or some combination of these and other reasons.

So, after calling the four fishermen to follow him, he took them back to their place! But on the Sabbath he went to the synagogue.

The synagogue was a meeting place, a hall, where the Jews gathered to hear the Torah read and expounded. They had become the main expression of Jewish faith during the diaspora of the Jews away from the one temple in Jerusalem.

Jesus had been preaching for about a year before the event that Mark recounts in this verse. On his arrival at the synagogue, Jesus is invited to speak, as guest rabbis were often invited to do.
As I review this chapter, there are obvious time gaps left by Mark. The first is the between the end of his wilderness temptations (Mar_1:13) and his "arrival" in Galilee (Mar_1:14). In fact, since Mar_1:14-15 could be seen as a summary account of Jesus' activities, they cover an indefinite period of time which may cover up to the end of Mar_1:20. Alternatively, these two verses could be seen to introduce the ongoing activities which Mark then gives specific examples of in the rest of the chapter.

Mar_1:21 is definitely the beginning of a new episode. In contrast with the summary statement, this account is specific - noting a specific town, a specific day and a specific place.